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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Dudley?

44 replies

bodz29 · 13/06/2012 20:47

Hi all, newbie here so be gentle!

Me and my OH are at loggerheads over the name Dudley for our next baby (due in 6 weeks and a boy). I absolutely can't stand it, but they absolutely love it and have their heart set on it.

Our DD is called Elsie, which we are sooo happy with, so initially we wanted something a bit different for the new arrival. My view has changed since and I feel a boy's name doesn't have as much freedom to be quirky and 'out there' as a girls name, so I'm erring to more traditional, strong names (Luke is my fave)

Am I being unreasonable? What do you guys think of Dudley? I've tried to love it but I just can't at the moment. I need help on this one!

Btw, middle name will be Alistair after my brother

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shinyblackgrape · 17/06/2012 07:38

I prefer Ting Tong to Dudley and that's saying something.....

FairLadyRantALot · 17/06/2012 01:30

Dudley Moore springs to mind...not sure that would be a good thing....

how about something like Levi, Flynn, Riley....

anniemcphee · 17/06/2012 00:30

Luke is much much nicer.
Sorry - I hear Dudley I think Lenny Henry and that accent!

CrumpettyTree · 16/06/2012 20:38

Dudley and Ting Tong

CrumpettyTree · 16/06/2012 20:34

Dudley Punt is the tall boyfriend of Ting Tong. In Episode 2, after having sex with Ting Tong for the first time, he was horrified to discover that she was a "ladyboy" (he caught her urinating whilst standing).

Sossiges · 16/06/2012 20:33

Just no.

CrumpettyTree · 16/06/2012 20:30

It makes me think of Mr Dudley and Ting Tong Macadangdang from Little Britain. "But Mr Dudweee!!"

laurz75 · 15/06/2012 10:01

I read a book called Dudley - Top Dog or something similar the other week. The dog was very stupid in it - do not call your poor child this name!!!

anychocswilldo · 15/06/2012 09:58

Btw, Elsie is lovely Grin

anychocswilldo · 15/06/2012 09:57

Please don't call your child Dudley, its awful!

DrinkFeckArseGirls · 15/06/2012 09:11

No. Repeat ad nauseum. Envy that's vim face.

TinkerMaloo · 15/06/2012 08:46

Yes show him the thread, and stick by your guns, unusual isnt always nice and Dudley is not good....

(Elsie however is lovely :) )

iMoniker · 15/06/2012 03:57

Dudley. Absolutely not. Why?

Dud; Dudders; Dud-head; Dudley Dursley; Dudley Moore; Duddles; Cuddly Dudley.

How about Dugald instead?

moreyear · 15/06/2012 03:21

Just no.

Doomfinger · 15/06/2012 03:03

Even as a Brummie I don't see what's wrong with Dudley. Even with the rivalry going on between WM cities/ towns I don't think Dudley is that bad a place. Also not sure when Lenny Henry moved house? At least it's not in Birmingham, which makes a change. Not sure why it's a Duh sound, I can't make that work. I haven't ever heard it pronounced "Dod" locally either.

I think Luke is nicer, but I don't think Dudley is a terrible name.

sashh · 15/06/2012 02:49

Have you ever been to Dudley? Send OH there for a day - he will change his mind.

msrantsalot · 15/06/2012 01:37

I haven't read harry Potter..I'm just thinking Dudley Moore. I suppose it depends if it fits with your surname. My best advice; wait until you meet him, a great name will spring to mind. We went into the labour ward with very set ideas, but when she was born the name just came. And it wasn't anything like what we had planned. yet it suits her to a T.

Thistledew · 15/06/2012 01:16

CakeBump - the horse you rode called Dudley didn't happen to be a rather psychotic bright chestnut, did he?

PercyFilth · 15/06/2012 01:10

I won't repeat the other reasons why this name is a bad choice, but you could also ask him if he wants his son to be called Dud.

PigeonPie · 13/06/2012 23:47

I would have loved to have named my DS1 Dudley after my wonderful Grandfather, but because of the Harry Potter connotations decided against it. He has it as one of his middle names instead and I'm happy and my late Grandpapa was happy too.

1944girl · 13/06/2012 23:40

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

EdithWeston · 13/06/2012 23:08

Dudley is definitely Dursley, and I expect that association will be going strong for many years to come (if you want a HP baddie name beginning with D, try Draco instead?)

Luke is lovely, and its longer history means it's not just Skywalker (though you might like DH dressed in back leather with a cape!)

Badgerina · 13/06/2012 22:59

Oh no Confused a very unfortunate name. I'm not keen on Luke either though, makes me think "luke warm".

bodz29 · 13/06/2012 21:46

TBH neither of us watch Harry Potter and our DD is too young to be reading the books. Still, at least I know now - I'm so glad I asked (i've just googled Dudley and Harry Potter - no no no! Shock)

I just hated the sound 'Duh' at the beginning, that did it for me straight away

Thanks all for confirming what I thought Thanks, I'll let you know what we finally chose (it won't be Dudley lol!)

OP posts:
MistyB · 13/06/2012 21:31

The Harry Potter series has sold more books than any other series ever. 450 million people worldwide will associate the name 'Dudley' with a fat obnoxious bully!. Your Dudley of course will be beautiful and well mannered and prove that you can never judge a book by it's cover or a person by it's name.